Motocross ace determined to carry on after theft

A TEENAGE motocross ace from St Leonards was left devastated after thieves broke into his garage and stole £5,000 worth of equipment.

Ryan Fellowes, 16, is counting the cost of the raid after thieves smashed through a window and a wooden storage cupboard to get inside the garage.

It was the second time in recent years that Ryan’s equipment had been targeted.

In 2003 a thief stole his £2,500 junior scrambler bike from his father’s van while it was parked up outside their house. Most of the gear had been assembled since Ryan started racing at the age of six.

Last Thursday’s haul included three pairs of riding boots, two carbon fibres knee braces, a neck brace, seven helmets, five race shirts and six pairs of goggles. Fortunately none of his motorbikes was taken during the overnight raid.

Pictured above in action, Ryan recently finished runner-up in the coveted British Motocross Association British Championships and finished fifth in this year’s Youth British Championships.

And he is determined not to let the latest theft slow down his progress. “I was really upset about losing all my gear,” said Ryan. “I had some of my shirts for quite a long time. I had saved a lot since I was a small kid and they had quite a lot of sentimental value.

“Fortunately we had some spare gear that we can use so I can still go out practising at the weekends. I won’t let any of these setbacks stop me from achieving my aims.”

Ryan’s father Mark is offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest of the culprits or the whereabouts of the equipment. If you have any information, call Mr Fellowes on 07989 079431.